Charitable associations distributing coupons for zakat al-fitr

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah keep you safe. Some charitable associations distribute coupons for the alms given at the end of Ramadan, where the person pays them the value, and they buy it on his behalf. Is this prescribed?

The Shaykh:
This is manipulation and is not permissible. It has reached us that some people collect this money and do not buy food to eat for them, because they do not fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is fraud. And how do you know that these people are committing fraud? This action is not permissible. It is not permissible for them to pay the value and give the coupon or the like. This is manipulation of the servants of Allah, and it is not permissible. Rather, if it is two days before the festival, one begins the work of giving the alms given at the end of Ramadan. But if they distribute coupons and take money from people, and they may take large quantities and are unable to dispose of it for this huge number of people, and then they manipulate this act of worship and this religious observance, this is a matter that is not permissible. This manipulation of one of the observances of Islam is one aspect. The other aspect is that we may not trust them, because it has been found that people commit fraud; they distribute these coupons to people, take the money, and keep it for themselves. It has also been found that some distribute coupons for the 'Id sacrifice and the ransom payment in Hajj; they distribute coupons, take the money, and run away.
People of this type have been found. So it is not advisable to accept from all of them. Rather, accept from one person you know, whose trustworthiness you know and whose religion you know. And this is what I think one should say to people: "Give it to me." Do not take on the responsibility of people. The one who fears Allah does not take on the responsibility of people. He says, "Give it to me." But if he is tested and it is said to him, "Here is the solution. May Allah reward you with good, distribute it."
He may take on the responsibility. But if he says to people, "Come, give it to me," this indicates that he does not care, because he is loading his liability with something he may not be able to fulfill. Yes. And the person in his sound state, the person in his sound state, does not say to people, "Give it to me, I will take charge of this." But if they give it to him and they say, "If he wants to do good, he accepts it," and if he knows from himself the trustworthiness and knows from himself the ability, knows from himself the trustworthiness, and knows from himself the ability to deliver it to the needy in its time, then there is nothing wrong. Yes.

The questioner:
Is it not valid for charitable associations to be agents for the poor and distribute it to them according to their need?

The Shaykh:
Did the poor appoint them as agents? Those who appointed them are the payers. The associations were not appointed by the poor, but rather those who appointed them are the ones who paid them. It is as if it is from only one side. Yes.